It was far worse than Jacomina; she thought that her arms would break in the few seconds before Sarre caught Sarel's up stretched arms and hauled him up beside him.

But she forgot the pain in a rush of panic.

It was hideously dark and the loose stones were shifting under her feet again.

If Sarre wasn't quick she might disgrace herself for ever and scream.

She swallowed terror as best she might as he spoke again.

"Scared, Alethea?

' His voice was warm and rea.s.suring.

"We'll have you out in a few seconds now, just do exactly as I say.

' She lifted her aching arms above her head and tried not to think of

the emptiness below her.

"And when I say so, jump, my dear.

' "Jump?

' her voice rose.

"T can't oh, I can't!

Suppose you don't catch my hands?

I'm lower than the children were.

' Somewhere below her the rubble slid and settled again.

"Sarre, I'm frightened.

' Her voice, which she had managed to keep steady until now, wobbled

badly.

"Of course you're frightened," his voice soothed her, 'but I'm not going to let you go, that's a promise.

Now take a nice deep breath and when I say so, jump.

Do as I say, Alethea.

' His calm had rubbed off on to her besides, he had promised.

When he said "Now!

' she jumped, her arms stretched to their utmost, and felt the stones

beneath her scatter as she did so.

His hands were like iron bands round her wrists, her arms were being pulled from their sockets.

"Relax, my dear," said Sarre in a perfectly ordinary voice, and then

began to haul her up inch by inch, working his hands slowly up her arms

until they were below her elbows.

She hung like that for a second or two while he pulled himself to his knees and then to his feet and then swung her up and out to hold her close in his arms.

He was breathing hard and his heart was pounding.

She could feel it under her ear; it was comforting and made her feel safe again.

When he asked harshly: "Are you hurt?

' she mumbled into his shoulder that she was fine, fighting a desire to

have a good howl.

"The children?

' she asked then.

"Over in the corner.

' The torch he was holding suddenly went out.

"d.a.m.n!

' He let go other and fished out his lighter.

Its tiny flame made the horrible bare little room even more horrible,

but by its light Alethea had seen something-candles in two broken-down

enamel candlesticks.

She flew across the room and carried them back to Sarre and when he had lighted them held them triumphantly aloft, debating where to set them.

She heard Sarre saying something, but she wasn't attending; she was

elated at their escape and all she wanted now was to find a safe place for their lighting so that they could get out of the house as quickly as possible.

There was a shelf against one wall, sound enough still.

She put them down and asked him: "What did you say?

' He was kneeling by the children, making sure that they weren't hurt, but he turned to speak over his shoulder.

"T said

"By Sun and Candlelight," Alethea.

' Something in his voice made her look at him, but although she knew vaguely that it was from some poem or other, she couldn't be bothered just then to think about it.

"Are the children all right?

' she asked.

"T believe so--bruised and a cut or two.

And you?

' "Never better," she lied cheerfully; her arms ached so much she could

hardly move them, but if he stopped to examine them now they would

never get away.

There was an ominous rumble from somewhere beneath them and Sarre said: "T think it's time to go.

' He blew out one of the candles and picked up the other and gave a hand to Jacomina who was snivelling unhappily.

"Sarel, stay close to Alethea and right behind me. ' They negotiated the rickety stairs safely and gained the narrow pa.s.sage, and Sarre opened the door and blew out the candle.

The evening was still bright.

Jacomina, catching sight of the scratches and bruises on her small person, broke out into fresh sobs. Sarel didn't look much better, but it was Alethea who had come off worst; she had cut her hand quite badly when she had jumped down to the children, her tights were in tatters as well as her dress and her hair was full of dust and cobwebs and over and above that her arms, where Sarre had hauled her up, were already an angry red.

And as for Sarre, he hadn't escaped scot free either.

He had taken off his jacket the better to rescue them and his shirt was torn and stained.

Once in the dreary little alley, he tossed the jacket into the back of the car, lifted Jacomina, still howling, into the back seat, told Sarel to get in after her, and opened the door for Alethea.

One glance at her and he picked her up and tossed her gently into the seat beside his: "You look all in," he murmured, 'your arms must be painful.

' She mumbled that they were all right without looking at him and sat silent while he drove home.

Only when they were within sight of the house did she ask: "How did you know?

' She stirred to ease her aching legs.

"Where we were.